3-year-old killed in crash on northbound Highway 99

STOCKTON – A 3-year-old girl was killed after being ejected from a car during a crash on northbound Highway 99 near Hammer Lane on Friday, the California Highway Patrol said.

The Record

STOCKTON – A 3-year-old girl was killed after being ejected from a car during a crash on northbound Highway 99 near Hammer Lane on Friday, the California Highway Patrol said.

The child's mother Maria Romero, 32, of Atwater was driving a 2000 Isuzu sport utility vehicle northbound on Highway 99 at 12:45 p.m. when it crashed for unknown reasons with a 2012 Toyota sedan. The cars veered onto the northwest shoulder of the road where the Isuzu rolled over. The 3-year-old girl, who was not restrained properly, was ejected CHP Officer James Smith said.

Three other children - a 1-year-old girl, a 9-year-old girl, and a 10-year-old boy - were also injured in the crash. The 10-year-old boy was air lifted to the University of California Davis Medical Center, Smith said. Romero and another adult, 59-year-old Eleazar Munoz were also taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries.

"The 3-year-old was not properly restrained,” Smith said. “It's undetermined who was in what type of restraint.”

The Toyota was driven by Andre Peterson, 48, of South Lake Tahoe. Both he and passenger Linda Fischer, 52, were uninjured, Smith said.

Smith said it is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash. An investigation is ongoing.